Device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like

ABSTRACT

Actuating means for actuating a discharge valve of a gas tank or the like is normally held in a stationary valve deactuated position by detent means. The detent means is normally held in a retaining position by a fusible metal link. When the link is fused, by an environmental temperature rise, the detent means is displaced to a releasing position at a right angle to the direction of movement of said actuating means, thereby permitting said actuating means to actuate the valve.

[ 1 Mar. 21, 1972 United States Patent Fujiki et al.

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Tokyo, Japan Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. [73] Asslgnee: EEO]; Watch Co., Ltd., Nagoya-sin, Aichi- Asst-slam Examiner Reinhold w Thieme en, apan Attorney-Henry T. Burke, Robert S. Dunham, P. E. Henninger, Lester W. Clark, Gerald W. Griffin, Thomas F. Moran, R. Bradlee Boal, Christopher C. Dunham and Robert Scobey Appl. No.:

ABSTRACT Actuating means for-actuating a discharge .valve of a gas tank Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 18, 1969 Japan..................................44/356l7 or the like is normally held in a stationary valve deactuated position by detent means. The detent means is normally held in a retaining position by a fusible metal link. When the link is fused, by an environmental temperature rise, the detent means is displaced to a releasing position at a right angle to the 2 4 m 27 23W l c U. 2 2 n A 7 3 9 m M m 6 MW 1 n m m n u "1 m m .a u "e u S L hf o S L2 i U 1F 1 l] 2 8 5 direction of movement of said actuating means, thereby permitting said actuating means to actuate the valve.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,196,953 Young 1 69/19 Patented March 21, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 3

INVENTORS ya FUJ/A f H/POSH/ TSZ/B/IK/ Patented March 21, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 S U FUJ/K/ ///A05H/ TSZ/EA'K/ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for automatically actuating a valve, and more particularly to a device for automatically actuating a gas discharge or fire preventive device, such as a fire extinguisher.

In conventional fire preventive equipment such as fire extinguishers and heat insulating gas discharge devices, the construction of a device for automatically actuating a valve for discharging a gas or a fire extinguishing agent in response to an environmental temperature rise is relatively complex. Furthermore, if it is desired to increase the force acting upon the valve, the means for holding the actuating device in a deactivated position at room temperature must be increased in dimensions and mechanical strength sufficient enough to receive this increased force, thus resulting in high cost. On the other hand, if the size of the spring depressing the actuating means is -reduced to reduce the spring force in order to decrease the cost, reliable and dependable operation will not be attained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like in response to a temperature rise, which device is simple in construction and inexpensive.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like in response to a temperature rise, which device is reliable and dependable in operation.

According to the present invention, means for actuating a gas discharge valve of a tank or the like in response to a temperature rise is normally held in a stationary or valve deactuated position by a detent means. The detent means in turn is normally held in a stationary or retaining position by means of a fusible (metal) link. When the fusible link is melted due to a temperature rise due to a fire or the like, the detent means is displaced at a right angle relative to the direction of movement of the valve actuating means, so that the actuating means is released, thereby actuating the valve so as to discharge the gas or other fire extinguishing agents.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detent means is displaced by a lateral component of force produced by movement of the actuating means, but is normally held in its stationary or retaining position by the fusible link so that the detent means is normally not permitted to displace itself.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the detent means is displaced by a spring, but is normally prevented from being displaced by the fusible link which extends into the path of movement ofthe detent means.

In the present invention, the detent means is displaced in a direction at a right angle relative to the movement of the valve actuating means when the detent means releases the actuating means, so that the detent means may be made simple in construction and a relatively light force is sufficient for causing the displacement of the detent means. Thus, a device in accordance with the present invention is simple in construction and inexpensive. Furthermore, the force ofa spring for actuating the valve actuating means may be much increased, so that a device in accordance with the present invention becomes more reliable and dependable in operation.

As discussed above, a device in accordance with the invention can be applied to a fire extinguisher to automatically ac tuate it in response to a temperature rise due to fire so as to discharge water, gas and other fire extinguishing agents, as well as to a device for protecting the contents of a safe or the like so as to automatically discharge a heat insulating gas to fill the safe to prevent an excessive temperature rise.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire extinguisher or the like embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof with its cap removed; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a top view thereof; FIG. 6 is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a fire extinguisher to which is applied the present invention in one form. A spring supporting plate 3 having an opening 2 is slidably fitted into a casing 1. At the top of the casing l is fixed a holding plate 5 having an opening 4 on both sides of which are pivotably fixed detent plates 10 and 10a to the plate 5 by means of screws 6 and 6a. The ends remote from the screws 6 and 6a of the detent plates 10 and 10a are connected to each otherthrough a small connecting member or link 8 made of, for example, a fusible metal which is melted at a predetermined temperature, so that both of the detent plates 10 and 10a are not permitted to move away from (or toward) each other until the link melts. A valve actuating member 13 has a width slightly smaller than the widths of the openings 2 and 4, a flange 11 formed at the lower end thereof and extending outwardly of the opening 2, and notches l2 and 12a at the top of the actuating member. The actuating member 13 is inserted into the openings 2 and 4 from the underside of the spring supporting plate 3 and is held in position by the detent plates 10 and 10a fitted into the notches l2 and 12a, so that the actuating member 13 is not permitted to move downwardly in FIG. 3. Under this condition, it should be noted that upper side edges 12b and 12c of the notches l2 and 12a of the actuating member 13 are fitted into notches 7 and 7a formed in the detent plates 10 and 10a respectively as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A coiled spring I4 fitted over the actuating member 13 is interposed between the holding plate 5 and the spring supporting plate 3 so that both of the spring supporting plate 3 and the actuating member 13 are normally biased downwardly. The upper side edges I2b and of the notches l2 and 12a are inclined upwardly, so that when the actuating member I3 moves downwardly, lateral forces for opening outwardly the detent plates 10 and 10a are produced by these upwardly inclined upper edges 12b and 12c.

The casing l is fixed to a tank 16 filled with a fire extinguishing agent, utilizing, for example, screws 20, in such a manner that a discharge valve 17 having a nozzle 15 is located immediately below the lower end of the valve actuating member 13. Reference numeral 18 designates an ejection hole formed through the casing 1, while 19 designates a cap fitted upon the casing 1.

In operation, the fusible link 8 is melted at a predetermined raised temperature due to an environmental temperature increase because of, for example, a fire. Accordingly, the detent plates 10 and 10a are disconnected from each other. The lateral forces from the upper side edges 12b and 12c of the notches l2 and 12a cause the detent plates 10 and 10a to rotate outwardly, thereby releasing the valve actuating member 13. Thus, the actuating member 13 together with the spring supporting plate 3 is caused to move downwardly under the force of the coiled spring 14, thereby depressing the head of the discharge valve 17. Subsequently, the fire extinguishing agent is sprayed through the nozzle 15 and the hole 18.

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate a device embodying the present invention for ejecting a heat insulating gas into a safe or the like,

thereby protecting the contents therein from fire or the like. It will be understood that this embodiment may be also applied to fire extinguishers or the like. It is noted that in FIG. 4 the position of a supporting member 42 for mounting the device of the present invention upon a tank is shown as being different from that shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 for the sake of better understanding of the present invention. lt is also noted that one supporting member and a fuse metal together with its supporting members are not shown in-FIG. 4 for the same reason.

As described above, the device of the present invention is mounted upon a gas tank 41 (containing therein a heat insulating gas) by the supporting members 42. A pair of vertically spaced apart upper and lower holding plates or disks 43 and 44 are fixed in position to the supporting members 42 by means of, for example, screws 45' and 46. A pipe 47 is fluid (oil) tightly interposed between the upper and lower holding plates 43 and 44 and is filled with, for example, silicon oil. A valve actuating rod 48 and a spring 49 are fitted into the pipe 47 as shown, and the actuating rod 48 extends vertically through an opening 43a formed through the upper holding plate 43 and an opening 50a formed through a bearing member 50 which, in turn, is fitted into an opening 44a formed through the lower holding plate 44. A detent member 51 is pivotably fixed to the upper surface of the upper holding plate 43 by a pin 52. It should be noted that the detent member 51 normally holds the valve actuating rod 48 in its raised position shown in FIG. 4 through a ring 54 which, in turn, is fitted over the upper end of the actuating rod 48 by a screw 53 as shown. The spring 49 is compressed between the undersurface of the upper holding plate 43 and a flange 48a fitted over the actuating rod 48, so that the latter is normally biased downwardly. A depressing member 55 for depressing a pushbutton 57 is screwed over the lower end of the actuating rod 48 and is held in position by a set screw 56 in such a manner that the depressing member 55 is in light contact with the pushbutton 57 of the gas tank 41. A laterally extending projection 51a is formed at the detent member 51 for engagement with a spring 59 within a spring receiving member 58 so that the detent member 51 is biased by the spring 59 as to be rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5. A fuse metal link 61 is bridged between the upper holding plate 53 and a retaining member 60 fixed thereto by suitable means (not shown) and is held in position by screws 62 and 63 so that the rotation to the left of the detent member 51 in FIG. 6 is prevented.

When the environmental temperature is elevated due to, for example, a fire, the fuse metal 61 is melted so that the detent member 51 is released, so that it is caused to rotate under the force of the spring 59, thereby releasing the valve actuating rod 48 and the ring 54. Thus, the actuating rod 48 is caused to move downwardly under the force of the spring 49, so that the pushbutton 57 of the tank 41 is depressed, thereby discharging the gas in the tank so as to fill the safe or the like in order to prevent undue temperature rise.

We claim:

l. A device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like in response to a temperature rise comprising:

actuating means for actuating said valve; biasing means for normally biasing said actuating means toward a valve actuatingposition;

detent means normally in a retaining position for retaining said actuating means in a valve deactuated position, said detent means being mounted for movement away from said retaining position to a releasing position in which said actuating means is released to move from said valve deactuated position to said valve actuating position to actuate said valve, said detent means movement being substantially at a right angle relative to the direction of movement of said actuating means in actuating said valve; and a fusible link which normally retains said detent means in said retaining position and releases said detent means for movement to said releasing position when said fusible link is melted when the environmental temperature rises above adpredetermined temperature; wherein sa1 actuating means Includes means for providing one or more lateral components of force to move said detent means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes one or more notches having sloping edges which engage said detent means to provide said lateral components of force. I

3. A device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like in response to a temperature rise comprising:

actuating means for actuating said valve;

biasing means for normally biasing said actuating means toward a valve actuating position;

detent means normally in a retaining position for retaining said actuating means in a valve deactuated position, said detent means being mounted for movement away from said retaining position to a releasing position in which said actuating means is released to move from said valve deactuated position to said valve actuating position to actuate said valve, said detent means movement being substantially at a right angle relative to the direction of movement of said actuating means in actuating said valve; and

a fusible link which normally retains said detent means in said retaining position and releases said detent means for movement to said releasing position when said fusible link is melted when the environmental temperature rises above a predetermined temperature; wherein said detent means comprises two plates on opposite sides of said actuating means, and said fusible link joins said plates and pulls them against said actuating means to retain the latter in said valve deactuated position.

4. A device according to claim 2, including spring means for moving said detent means.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said fusible link extends into the path of movement of said detent means to prevent movement of said detent means. 

1. A device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like in response to a temperature rise comprising: actuating means for actuating said valve; biasing means for normally biasing said actuating means toward a valve actuating position; detent means normally in a retaining position for retaining said actuating means in a valve deactuated position, said detent means being mounted for movement away from said retaining position to a releasing position in which said actuating means is released to move from said valve deactuated position to said valve actuating position to actuate said valve, said detent means movement being substantially at a right angle relative to the direction of movement of said actuating means in actuating said valve; and a fusible link which normally retains said detent means in said retaining position and releases said detent means for movement to said releasing position when said fusible link is melted when the environmental temperature rises above a predetermined temperature; wherein said actuating means includes means for providing one or more lateral components of force to move said detent means.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes one or more notches having sloping edges which engage said detent means to provide said lateral components of force.
 3. A device for automatically actuating a gas discharge valve or the like in response to a temperature rise comprising: actuating means for actuating said valve; biasing means for normally biasing said actuating means toward a valve actuating position; detent means normally in a retaining position for retaining said actuating means in a valve deactuated position, said detent means being mounted for movement away from said retaining position to a releasing position in which said actuating means is released to move from said valve deactuated position to said valve actuating position to actuate said valve, said detent means movement being substantially at a right angle relative to the direction of movement of said actuating means in actuating said valve; and a fusible link which normally retains said detent means in said retaining position and releases said detent means for movement to said releasing position when said fusible link is melted when the environmental temperature rises above a predetermined temperature; wherein said detent means comprises two plates on opposite sides of said actuating means, and said fusible link joins said plates and pulls them against said actuating means to retain the latter in said valve deactuated position.
 4. A device according to claim 2, including spring means for moving said detent means.
 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said fusible link extends into the path of movement of said detent means to prevent movement of said detent means. 